About the I3 Instrument
The Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) Instrument is a major European funding initiative under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) designed to accelerate innovation and strengthen regional innovation ecosystems across the European Union. It provides financial and advisory support to mature interregional innovation projects that are ready to scale up, enter the market and improve competitiveness through cooperation between regions with shared or complementary innovation priorities.
The I3 Instrument supports projects that:
- Bring innovations closer to market: Helping innovative technologies and solutions move from demonstration and pilot stages to commercial rollout.
- Mobilise investment: Offering grants and funding to participating entities, including SMEs, research organisation, clusters and public authorities.
- Strengthen European value chains: Fostering interregional collaboration and reinforcing innovation linkages between regions with different levels of development.
- Bridge the innovation divide: Especially by supporting actors in less developed transition regions.